Turn signal and hazard signal control circuit

ABSTRACT

An electronic control circuit for controlling left and right turn signal lamps including a turn signal circuit to activate the left or right lamp and then automatically deactivate either lamp after a predetermined time period, a hazard signal circuit to flash the left and right lamps simultaneously, a circuit to override the hazard signal circuit to activate the left or right lamp for the predetermined time period and then to reactivate the hazard signal circuit to flash the left and right lamps simultaneously, a circuit to deactivate one of the lamps during the predetermined time period and activate the other lamp, and a circuit to automatically activate the hazard signal circuit when an ignition switch is locked in a park position.

BACKGROUND ART

This invention relates to a turn signal and hazard signal controlcircuit for vehicles and, more particularly, to an electronic turnsignal and hazard signal control circuit for particular use onmotorcycles.

A wide variety of control circuits has been developed for actuatinglamps to perform the typical turn signal and hazard signal functions.Generally, these control circuits have been designed for enclosedvehicles having steering wheels, such as automobiles, trucks and thelike. As will be discussed below, smaller, open vehicles, such asmotorcycles, have different turn signal and hazard signal requirementsthan the closed vehicles. However, the turn signal and hazard signalcontrol circuits for the motorcycles are designed using the basicfeatures of the control circuits for the closed vehicles and these arenot entirely satisfactory.

In prior control circuits, the automobile operator will manually move aturn signal switch to the on position to activate a turn signal lamppreparatory to turning a corner or changing lanes. The steering wheelwill mechanically and automatically return the switch to the offposition after making the turn when the automobile again is being movedin a straight path. This is not feasible in a motorcycle since thehandlebars and front wheel usually do not turn sufficiently tomechanically return the switch to the off position. Consequently, amotorcycle operator must manually move the switch to the on positionand, after the turn, manually return the switch to the off position.Similarly, in making a lane change with either an automobile or amotorcycle, the steering mechanism will not turn sufficiently such thatthe switch will have to be returned manually to the off position.

This manual operation is a particular problem for motorcyclists and thegeneral driving public. For example, after making a lane change orturning a corner, the motorcyclist may forget that the turn signal isactivated and keep the switch in the on position. Those driving in thevicinity of the motorcyclist will think that another lane change or turnis about to be made and drive accordingly. A dangerous driving conditionwill exist any time inaccurate information is being conveyed by onevehicle operator to another.

Also, motorcyclists have the capability of and, in fact, do make rapidlane changes from, for example, the right lane to the left lane and backto the right lane. Therefore, for safer driving, the motorcyclist shouldbe able to quickly signal for a left lane change and then quickly cancelthe left lane change and signal the right lane change when operating themotorcycle in this manner. The prior control circuits do not activateand deactivate the turn signals optimally to meet these drivingconditions.

Because of the small size and therefore reduced visibility ofmotorcycles, when riding a motorcycle in bad driving conditions such asfog, rain, or over dark roads, it usually is safer for the motorcyclistto actuate the hazard signal lamps. Control circuits are available forperforming the hazard signal function during operation of a vehicle.However, when making a lane change or turning a corner during thesedriving conditions, it is desirable from a safety viewpoint to be ableto override the hazard signal lamps to activate the turn signal lampsprior to making the change or turn, and then to automatically activatethe hazard signal lamps again after the lane change or turn has beencompleted. Prior control circuits do not provide this feature.

Furthermore, when a motorcycle has broken down and is on the side of theroad, the motorcyclist will want to activate the hazard signals andleave the area to seek assistance. Since the motorcycle is an openvehicle, with prior control circuits it is possible for a stranger tohave easy access to the hazard switch to deactivate the hazard signals.This is not a problem with automobiles since the driver can lock thedoors of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel electroniccontrol circuit for controlling left and right turn signal lamps, aswell as hazard signal lamps.

Another object of the present invention is to automatically cancel orinhibit the turn signal lamps a predetermined time period afteractivating these lamps.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a controlcircuit which inhibits a selected one turn signal lamp during thepredetermined time period when the other turn signal lamp is activatedfor quick lane change purposes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to override the hazardsignal lamps to activate the turn signal lamps when making a lane changeor turn, and then to return automatically to the hazard signal functionwhen the lane change or turn signalling is completed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a controlcircuit which enables the motorcyclist to activate the hazard signallamps and leave the motorcycle, while preventing others fromdeactivating these lamps.

These and other objects of the present invention are provided by anelectronic control circuit for controlling left and right turn signallamps, comprising switch means for selecting the left or the right turnsignal lamp, first means for actuating the left turn signal lamp toflash on and off, second means for actuating a right turn signal lamp toflash on and off, and first and second means for automaticallyinhibiting the first and second actuating means, respectively, apredetermined time period after actuating the respective turn signallamps.

The electronic control circuit also includes a means for overriding aselected one of the turn signal lamps during the predetermined timeperiod to actuate the other of the turn signal lamps for thepredetermined time period. The invention further comprises means forautomatically overriding a hazard signal means to actuate the left orright turn signal lamps and to then automatically activate the hazardsignal means again after the predetermined time period. In addition, thecontrol circuit includes a circuit which automatically activates thehazard signal lamps when the ignition switch is locked in a parkposition with the ignition key removed, and prevents deactivation of thehazard signal lamps until the key is inserted in the ignition switch andthe switch moved from the park position to another position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate schematically, the electronic control circuitof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1B illustrates an electronic control circuit 10 which controls fourlamps 12, 14, 16 and 18 to perform turn signal and hazard signalfunctions. The lamps 12 and 14 are placed at the left front and leftrear of the vehicle, respectively, while the lamps 16 and 18 are placedat the right front and right rear of the vehicle, respectively. Thecircuit 10 is designed specifically for a motorcycle to aid themotorcyclist; however, it will become apparent that the invention hasapplication to most any other vehicle.

Furthermore, FIG. 1B shows the specific interconnections and values ofvarious components corresponding to a commercial embodiment, but theseneet not be and will not be discussed in detail for an understanding ofthe present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a power and control signal supply for the circuit10 is provided by the vehicle battery 20 over a branched line 22, onebranch of which leads to an ignition switch 24. The switch 24 has an offposition 24a, an ignition position 24b and a park position 24c. A turnsignal select switch 26, which is a momentary switch, is connected tothe battery 20 over a line 28 with the switch 24 in the ignitionposition 24b. The switch 26 has a left turn signal position 26a and aright turn signal position 26b.

A hazard signal switch 30, which is a toggle switch, is connected to thebattery 20 over the line 28 with the switch 24 in the ignition position24b. The switch 30 has an off position 30a and an on position 30b.

An oscillator 32 shown in FIG. 1B is activated by the output of aninverter 34 over a line 36. The input to the inverter 34 is a controlsignal on a line 38 which is connected to the left turn position 26a ofthe switch 26 through a resistor 40 and a diode 42.

An RC timing circuit 44 has a capacitor 46 and a resistor 48. Thecapacitor 46 is charged to the voltage +V of the battery 20 by thecontrol signal on the line 38 over a line 49 and discharges through theresistor 48 to ground. The timing circuit 44 inhibits or deactivates theoscillator 32 a predetermined time period after generating the controlsignal on line 38.

When activated, the oscillator 32 generates output pulses over a line50, which are gated through an Or gate 52 to an output line 54. Atransistor 56 is biased on and off by the pulses on line 54 via a baseresistor 58 to bias on and off a transistor 60 through its base resistor62. When the transistor 60 is on, the battery voltage +V is coupleddirectly over the line 22 through the transistor 60 to the lamps 12 and14 over a line 64 to actuate the latter.

An oscillator 66 is activated by the output of an inverter 68 over aline 70. The input to the inverter 68 is a control signal on a line 72leading to the right turn position 26b of the switch 26 through aresistor 74 and a diode 76.

An RC timing circuit 78 has a capacitor 80 and a resistor 82. Thecapacitor 80 is charged by the control signal on the line 72 over a line84 and discharges through the resistor 82 over the line 84 to ground.The timing circuit 78 inhibits or deactivates the oscillator 66 apredetermined time period after generating the control signal on line72.

When activated, the oscillator 66 generates pulses over a line 86 whichare gated through an Or gate 88 to an output line 90. A transistor 92 isbiased on and off by the pulses on line 90 through a base resistor 94and biases on and off a transistor 96 through a base resistor 98. Whenthe transistor 96 is biased on, the battery supply voltage +V is coupledfrom the line 22 through the transistor 96 to a line 100 to actuate thelamps 16 and 18.

An oscillator 102 is activated by a control signal on a line 104 leadingto the off position 30a of the hazard switch 30. The oscillator 102 alsois activated by the output of an Or gate 106 over a line 108 having adiode 109. One input to the Or gate 106 is a signal on a line 110coupled to a junction between the line 38 and the line 49. The otherinput to the gate 106 is a signal on a line 111 coupled to a junctionbetween the line 72 and the line 84. When activated, the oscillator 102generates output pulses on a line 112. The pulses are gatedsimultaneously through the Or gate 52 and the Or gate 88 to turn on andoff the transistors 56, 60 and transistors 92, 96 to simultaneouslyactuate the lamps 12, 14, 16 and 18 for the hazard signalling function.

The inverters 34 and 68, as well as the inverters (unnumbered) shown inthe oscillators 32, 66 and 102 are implemented by a Schmitt triggerusing CMOS technology. The Or gates 52, 88 and 106 are implemented alsousing CMOS technology. A power supply V_(cc) for these components, asshown in the drawings, is provided by a circuit referenced generally at114 having a resistor 116 and a capacitor 118. With the switch 24 in theignition position 24b, the battery supply 20 is coupled over the line 22and line 28 through a diode 120 of the circuit 114, to the resistor 116and capacitor 118 to produce the supply V_(cc). When the switch 24 is inthe park position 24c, the battery supply 20 is fed over the line 22 toa line 122 and over a diode 124 to the resistor 116 and capacitor 118 toproduce supply V_(cc).

A cross coupling network 126 permits rapid changes in turn signallingbetween a left turn signal and a right turn signal. The network 126includes one line 128 having a diode 130 and a resistor 132 coupled atone end 134 to the line 38 and at another end 136 to the virtual groundof the inverter 68. Another line 138 of the network 126 includes a diode140 and a resistor 142 with one end 144 coupled to the line 72 andanother end 144 connected to the virtual ground of the inverter 34.

In operation, assume that a motorcycle is being driven on the road andthat the key is in the ignition switch 24 in the ignition position 24b.Also assume that the turn signal select switch 26 is off, i.e., not inthe left turn position 26a or the right turn position 26b, and that thehazard switch 30 is in the off position 30a. In this condition, acontrol signal of logic 0 is supplied over the line 38 and inverted bythe inverter 34 to provide a logic 1 on the line 36 to inhibit ordeactivate the oscillator 32. Similarly, a control signal of logic 0 issupplied on the line 72 and inverted by the inverter 68 to produce alogic 1 on the line 70 which inhibits or deactivates the oscillator 66.Also, with the switch 30 in the off position, a control signal of logic1 is supplied on the line 104 to inhibit or deactivate the oscillator102. Also at this time, a control signal of logic 0 is produced on theline 110 and the line 111 since switch 26 is off, whereby the output ofgate 106 on line 108 is logic 0. However, since a logic 1 is on the line104 the oscillator 102 remains in its deactivated state.

Now, assume, for example, that the motorcyclist is about to change lanesfrom the right lane to the left lane. The momentary switch 26 will bemoved to the left turn position 26a to produce a control signal on line38 of a logic 1. This control signal on line 38 is inverted by theinverter 34 to produce a logic 0 on the line 36 and thereby to activatethe oscillator 32. As a result, the output pulses of the oscillator 32on the line 50 are gated through the gate 52 to turn on an offtransistors 56 and 60, causing left turn signals 12 and 14 to flash onand off.

When the control signal of logic 1 appears on the line 38, the capacitor46 will be charged to the battery voltage via the line 49. As the switch26 returns to its off position, which occurs almost immediately since itis a momentary switch, the capacitor 46 begins to discharge through theline 49 and resistor 48 to ground. When the capacitor 46 discharges tothe lower threshold of the inverter 34, i.e., when it discharges to alevel of a logic 0, the output on line 36 goes high to inhibit ordeactivate the oscillator 32. Consequently, at this time the left turnsignal lamps 12 and 14 are automatically turned off.

The timing circuit 44 can have a time constant of, for example, fiveseconds. Thus, five seconds after the switch 26 is moved to the leftturn position 26a and quickly returned to the off position shown, theoscillator 32 will be deactivated to automatically cancel the left turnsignal function. If the motorcyclist wants to continue the left turnsignal function beyond the five second period, the switch 26 need merelybe moved again to the left turn position 26a.

Assume now that the motorcyclist is operating the motorcycle in the leftlane and is about to make a lane change to the right lane. The momentaryswitch 26 will be moved to the right turn position 26b. This willproduce a control signal of logic 1 on the line 72 which will beinverted by the inverter 68 to produce a logic 0 on the line 70 and,thereby, activate the oscillator 66. Hence, output pulses will beproduced by the oscillator 66 on the line 86 and these will be gatedthrough the gate 88 to bias on and off the transistors 92 and 96 tocause flashing of the right turn lamps 16 and 18.

The control signal of logic 1 on line 72 also causes the capacitor 80 tocharge to the battery supply voltage via the line 84. When the switch 26is returned to the off position, which occurs almost immediately, thecapacitor 80 begins to discharge via the line 84 and resistor 82 toground. When the capacitor 80 discharges to the lower threshold of theinverter 68 corresponding to a logic 0 on line 72, the signal on line 70will be switched to the logic 1 state, whereby the oscillator 66 will beinhibited or deactivated to turn off the lamps 16 and 18. Thus, in asimilar manner as the timing circuit 44, the timing circuit 78 can beset to a predetermined period of five seconds to automaticallydeactivate the oscillator 66 and cancel the right turn signal function.

Assume now that the motorcyclist is in the right lane, and desires tochange to the left lane followed by a return to the right lane withinthe predetermined time period of five seconds. When changing from theright lane to the left lane, the switch 26 will be moved to the leftturn position 26a to activate the left turn signals 12 and 14, asdescribed above. The oscillator 32 normally will be activated for thefive second period.

However, in returning to the right lane within this five second period,the motorcyclist will move the switch 26 to the right turn position 26b.As a result, the signal on line 72 will go to a logic 1 and this will beinverted by the inverter 68 to produce a logic 0 on the line 70 toactivate the oscillator 66. When this occurs, the cross coupling network126 provides a rapid discharge path for the capacitor 46 via the line49, the junction 134, the diode 130, the resistor 132 and the end 136 tothe virtual ground of the inverter 68. Consequently, almost immediatelya logic 0 is produced at the input of the inverter 34 to result in alogic 1 on the line 36 which disables the oscillator 32.

In a similar manner, the cross coupling network 126 produces a rapiddischarge path for the capacitor 80 when the switch 26 is moved to theleft turn position 26a within the five second period after moving theswitch 26 to the right turn position 26b. This rapid discharge path isprovided from the capacitor 80 through the line 84, the junction 144,the diode 140, the resistor 142 and the end 144 to the virtual ground ofthe inverter 34.

Assume now that, for example, a foggy weather condition exists such thatthe motorcyclist wants to activate the hazard signal function whileriding on the road. The hazard switch 30 is now moved from the offposition 30a to the on position 30b. This will produce a control signalof logic 0 on the line 104 to activate the oscillator 102. Consequently,output pulses from the oscillator 102 on the line 112 are gatedsimultaneously through the gate 52 and the gate 88 to turn on and offthe transistors 56, 60 and 92, 96, respectively. Therefore, the lamps 12and 14 and the lamps 16 and 18 will simultaneously flash on and off toprovide the hazard signal function.

Now assume that with the lamps 12, 14, 16 and 18 being activated for thehazard signal function as just described, that the motorcyclist is aboutto change lanes from the right lane to the left lane. The switch 26 willbe moved to the left turn position 26a to activate the oscillator 32 asalready described. Simultaneously, a control signal of logic 1 will beproduced on the line 110, which will be gated by the gate 106 to theoutput line 108 to override the logic 0 on the line 104 and, thereby,deactivate the oscillator 102. As a result, the lamps 12 and 14 willcontinue to be activated to signal a left lane change, while the lamps16 and 18 will be turned off. Then, after the above-mentionedpredetermined time period of five seconds, the capacitor 46 will havedischarged to provide a logic 0 at the input to inverter 34 and to thegate 106, resulting in the left turn signal function being automaticallycancelled, and the oscillator 102 automatically reactivated to provideagain the hazard signal function. A similar operation occurs should themotorcyclist signal for a lane change from the left to the right lanewhen the lamps 12, 14 16 and 18 are in the hazard signal condition.

Assume now that while on the road, the motorcycle breaks down and themotorcyclist stops the motorcycle on the side of the road. Also, assumethat the switch 24, the switch 26 and the switch 30 are in the positionsshown so that the lamps 12, 14, 16 and 18 are not activated either forthe turn signal or hazard signal function. The motorcyclist can thenturn the ignition switch 24 from the ignition position 24b to the parkposition 24c and remove the ignition key to lock the switch 24 in thepark position 24c. Automatically, therefore, the battery supply 20 isremoved from the line 28 to produce a logic 0 on the line 104.Consequently, the oscillator 102 will be activated as already describedto cause the lamps 12, 14, 16 and 18 to flash on and off for the hazardsignal function. Since the switch 24 is locked in the park position 24c,this hazard signal function cannot be cancelled until the motorcyclistinserts the key and returns the switch 24 from the park position 24c tothe ignition position 24b. Therefore, the motorcyclist can leave thearea with the lamps 12, 14, 16 and 18 activated in the hazard signalcondition and no one else can cancel this.

Note that when the switch 24 is in the ignition position 24b, and theswitch 26 off, the hazard signal function is dependent on the state ofthe switch 30. When the switch 30 is in the off position 30a, the lamps12-18 will not be flashing. When switch 30 is in the on position, thelamps 12-18 will be flashing. However, when the switch 24 is in the parkposition 24c, the hazard signal function is not dependent on the stateor position of switch 30 and the lamps 12-18 will be flashing.

In addition to the advantages already indicated, the circuit 10 is asolid state unit which can replace standard, thermally controlled"flashers" in controlling and operating the lamps 12-18. Furthermore,the duty cycle of the oscillator 102 can be made low to reduce the drainon the battery 20 when activating the hazard signal function, yet allowthe lamp filaments to reach full intensity. The entire circuit 10 can beencapsulated in a solid epoxy resin to withstand weather, vibration andshock.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic control circuit for controllingleft and right turn signal lamps, comprising:(a) turn signal means foractivating the left turn signal lamp or the right turn signal lamp andfor then automatically deactivating the left turn signal lamp or theright turn signal lamp after a predetermined time period; (b) hazardsignal means for actuating the left turn signal lamp and the right turnsignal lamp to flash simultaneously; (c) means, connected to said turnsignal means, for overriding said hazard signal means for activating theleft turn signal lamp or the right turn signal lamp for thepredetermined time period and for then automatically activating saidhazard signal means to flash the left turn signal lamp and the rightturn signal lamp simultaneously; and (d) cross coupling network means,connected to said turn signal means, for deactivating one of the leftturn signal lamp or the right turn signal lamp during the predeterminedtime period in response to activating the other of the left turn signallamp or the right turn signal lamp for the predetermined time period. 2.An electronic control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said turnsignal means comprises:(a) left and right turn signal momentary switchmeans for generating left turn and right turn control signals; (b) firstoscillator means for generating first pulses in response to the leftturn control signal; (c) first gate means for activating the left turnsignal lamp in response to the first pulses; (d) first RC timing circuitmeans, responsive to the left turn control signal, for deactivating saidfirst oscillator means a predetermined time period after generating theleft turn control signal; (e) second oscillator means for generatingsecond pulses in response to the right turn control signal; (f) secondgate means for activating the right turn signal lamp in response to thesecond pulses; and (g) second RC timing circuit means, responsive to theright turn control signal, for deactivating said second oscillator meansa predetermined time period after generating the right turn controlsignal.
 3. An electronic control circuit according to claim 1 whereinsaid hazard signal means comprises:(a) on-off switch means forgenerating a control signal; (b) oscillator means, responsive to thecontrol signal, for generating pulses; and (c) first and second gatemeans for controlling the left turn signal lamp and the right turnsignal lamp, respectively, in response to the pulses.
 4. An electroniccontrol circuit according to claim 2 wherein said means for overridingsaid hazard signal means comprises means for gating the left turncontrol signal or the right turn control signal to deactivate saidhazard signal means.
 5. An electronic control circuit according to claim2 wherein said cross coupling network means comprises:(a) first circuitmeans, responsive to the right turn control signal, for providing adischarge path to enable said first RC timing circuit means to dischargequicker than the predetermined time period; and (b) second circuitmeans, responsive to the left turn control signal, for providing adischarge path to enable said second RC timing circuit means todischarge quicker than the predetermined time period.
 6. An electroniccontrol circuit for controlling left and right turn signal lamps,comprising:(a) switch means for selecting the left or the right turnsignal lamp; (b) first means, connected to said switch means, foractuating the left turn signal lamp to flash on and off; (c) secondmeans, connected to said switch means, for actuating the right turnsignal lamp to flash on and off; (d) first means for automaticallyinhibiting said first actuating means a predetermined time period afteractuating the left turn signal lamp; (e) second means for automaticallyinhibiting said second actuating means a predetermined time period afteractuating the right turn signal lamp; and (e) means for overriding aselected one of the turn signal lamps during the predetermined timeperiod to actuate the other of the turn signal lamps for thepredetermined time period, including cross coupling network means forshortening the predetermined time period of one of said first or secondinhibiting means and for actuating the other of said first or secondinhibiting means.
 7. An electronic control circuit for controlling leftand right turn signal lamps, comprising:(a) switch means for selectingthe left or right turn signal lamp; (b) first means, connected to saidswitch means, for actuating the left turn signal lamp to flash on andoff; (c) second means, connected to said switch means, for actuating theright turn signal lamp to flash on and off; (d) first means forautomatically inhibiting said first actuating means a predetermined timeperiod after actuating the left turn signal lamp; (e) second means forautomatically inhibiting said second actuating means a predeterminedtime period after actuating the right turn signal lamp; (f) hazardsignal means for actuating the left turn signal lamp and the right turnsignal lamp to flash on and off simultaneously; and (g) means forautomatically overriding said hazard signal means in response to saidswitch means selecting the left turn signal lamp or the right turnsignal lamp to flash the selected lamp on and off for the predeterminedperiod.
 8. An electronic control circuit according to claim 7 whereinsaid means for overriding comprises means for automatically activatingsaid hazard signal means after the predetermined time period to flashthe left turn signal lamp and the right turn signal lamp on and offsimultaneously.
 9. An electronic control circuit for controlling leftand right turn signal lamps of a vehicle comprising:(a) turn signalmeans for activating the left turn signal lamp or the right turn signallamp and for then automatically deactivating the left turn signal lampor the right turn signal lamp after a predetermined time period; (b) anignition switch having an off position, an ignition position and a parkposition; (c) means for supplying electrical power through said ignitionswitch when said ignition switch is in said ignition position or saidpark position; (d) hazard signal means for actuating the left turnsignal lamp and the right turn signal lamp, including(i) means forflashing the left turn signal lamp and the right turn signal lamp on andoff simultaneously in response to the electrical power; and (ii)two-state hazard switch means, connected to said ignition switch, foractivating said flashing means when said ignition switch is in saidignition position dependent on the state of said hazard switch means andfor automatically activating said flashing means when said ignitionswitch is in said park position independent of the state of said hazardswitch means; (e) means, connected to said turn signal means, foroverriding said hazard signal means for activating the left turn signallamp or the right turn signal lamp for the predetermined time period andfor then automatically activating said hazard signal means to flash theleft turn signal lamp and the right turn signal lamp simultaneously; and(f) cross coupling network means, connected to said turn signal means,for deactivating one of the left turn signal lamp or the right turnsignal lamp during the predetermined time period in response toactivating the other of the left turn signal lamp or the right turnsignal lamp for the predetermined time period.
 10. An electronic controlcircuit according to claim 9 wherein said hazard switch means comprisesan on-off switch having an off position at which activating electricalpower from said supplying means is coupled to said flashing means todeactivate said flashing means and having an on position at which theactivating electrical power from said supplying means is decoupled fromsaid flashing means to activate said flashing means.
 11. An electroniccontrol circuit for controlling left and right turn signal lamps,comprising:(a) switch means for selecting the left or the right turnsignal lamp and for providing left turn or right turn logic controlvoltage signals; (b) first oscillator means for actuating the left turnsignal lamp in response to the left turn logic control voltage signal;(c) second oscillator means for actuating the right turn signal lamp inresponse to the right turn logic control voltage signal; (d) first meansfor automatically inhibiting said first oscillator means a predeterminedtime period after actuating the left turn signal lamp, including an RCtiming circuit having a capacitor being charged to the voltage of theleft turn logic control signal and being discharged over thepredetermined period of time; and (e) second means for automaticallyinhibiting said second oscillator means a predetermined time periodafter actuating the right turn signal lamp, including an RC timingcircuit having a capacitor being charged to the voltage of the rightturn logic control signal and being discharged over the predeterminedperiod of time.
 12. An electronic control circuit according to claim 11wherein said first oscillator means and said second oscillator meanseach comprises:(a) an inverter having an input connected to said switchmeans and said capacitor of a respective said RC timing circuit, and anoutput; and (b) an oscillator connected to said output.
 13. Anelectronic control circuit for controlling left and right turn signallamps, comprising:(a) turn signal switch means for selecting the left orthe right turn signal lamp and for providing left turn or right turnlogic control voltage signals; (b) a first inverter having an inputreceiving the left turn logic control voltage signal, and an output; (c)a first oscillator connected to said output of said first inverter; (d)a first RC timing circuit having a first resistor and a first capacitorconnected to said input of said first inverter, said first capacitorbeing charged to the voltage of the left turn logic control voltagesignal and then being discharged through said first resistor over apredetermined time; (e) first means, connected to said first oscillator,for actuating the left turn signal lamp; (f) a second inverter having aninput receiving the right turn logic control voltage signal, and anoutput; (g) a second oscillator connected to said output of said secondinverter; (h) a second RC timing network having a second resistor and asecond capacitor connected to said input of said second inverter, saidsecond capacitor being charged to the voltage of the right turn logiccontrol voltage signal and then being discharged through said secondresistor over a predetermined time; and (i) second means, connected tosaid second oscillator, for actuating the right turn signal lamp.
 14. Anelectronic control circuit according to claim 13 further comprisingcross coupling network means, connected between said input and saidoutput of each of said first inverter and said second inverter, forshortening the discharge time of said first RC timing circuit and saidsecond RC timing circuit.